The usefulness of biomarkers in diagnosis of asbestos-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a malignant tumor that is associated mostly with asbestos exposure. The present study was to evaluates the diagnostic value of neopterin, periostin, YKL-40, Tenascin-C (TNC), and Indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as noninvasive markers of malign pleural mesothelioma. METHODS: Included in the study were 30 patients diagnosed with malign pleural mesothelioma, and 25 people as a control group. Biomarker levels were determined using an enzyme immunoassay . A Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: All evaluated biomarkers were found to be significantly higher in the MPM group than in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no effect of such variables as gender, age or MPMsubtype on the parameters (p > 0.05) in the patient group. All biomarkers were positively correlated with each other (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The current non-invasive biomarkers that can be used in the diagnosis of MPM yielded significant results and can make important contributions to the early diagnosis of MPM.

Xenobiotic/drug metabolizing enzyme and TP53 polymorphisms and clinical outcome in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The association between polymorphisms of xenobiotic/drug metabolizing enzymes and TP53 and response to chemotherapy and survival of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited and inconclusive. In this study, CYP2E1*5B, CYP2E1*6, CYP2E1*7B, GSTO1 (A140D), and TP53 (Arg72Pro) polymorphisms and response to platinum-based chemotherapy and survival in 137 advanced stage NSCLC patients were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic polymorphism analyses were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: The patients with TP53 Pro/Pro variant were more likely to be resistant to chemotherapy than those with Arg/Arg variants with marginal significance (P = 0.066). We also analyzed these gene variants in combination with CYP1A1 (Ile462Val), CYP1B1 (Asn453Ser), GSTM1, GSTP1 exon 5 (Ile105Val), and GSTP1 exon 6 (Ala114Val) and GSTT1 polymorphic genes that we have previously genotyped in the same patients (Ada et al., Neoplasma, 57, 512-527, 2010). The multivariate analysis revealed that adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death of the combined variant genotypes of TP53 (Arg72Pro, Pro72Pro) and CYP1A1 (Ile462Val, Val462Val) increased significantly as compared to wild-type genotypes (HR, 6.03; 95% CI, 1.39-26.04, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: These results show that combined variant genotypes of TP53 (Arg72Pro, Pro72Pro) and CYP1A1 (Ile/Val, Val/Val) are associated with worsening of survival in NSCLC patients.

Polymorphisms and Protein Expressions of Glutathione S-Transferase M1 and T1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The deletion polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes result in the absence of the corresponding protein, which decreases the detoxification of carcinogens. Studies evaluating polymorphisms and protein expressions in the same patients are limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the association between polymorphisms and protein expressions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in lung tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For protein expression and gene deletion studies, tumor and surrounding tumor free (normal) tissue of 33 patients with NSCLC were used. In paraffin-embedded tissues, immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expressions, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to identify gene deletions. RESULTS: GSTM1 and GSTT1 protein expressions were not detected in patients with GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions, whereas protein expressions were detected in lung tissues of all patients carrying GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes. The protein expression level of GSTT1 was 2.0-fold higher in tumors of patients lacking GSTM1 genes than those with GSTM1 genes (p=0.018). Protein expression of GSTM1 was statistically higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues of patients with GSTM1 genes (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: These results show that a) there is an association between gene deletions and protein expressions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in patients with NSCLC, b) in the absence of GSTM1 genes, enhancement of expression of GSTT1 in tumors is likely to show that GSTT1 increases its capacity to detoxify the toxic electrophiles in tumors, and c) GSTM1 protein expression is higher in tumors compared with normal lung tissues of patients with NSCLC.

Cytochrome P-450 Polymorphisms and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is an increasing worldwide public health problem. Most patients with lung cancer have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These patients are mainly treated with standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Poor response and great inter-individual variety in treatment response occurs among these patients. There is accumulating evidence to support the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms alter the drug response and survival. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes metabolize antineoplastic drugs and are involved in drug resistance. Polymorphic CYPs have altered enzyme activities and thus they may influence the response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with lung cancer. In the current review, recent findings with respect to the role of mainly CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 gene polymorphisms in response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with NSCLC have been provided, which could be useful for clinicians in the prognosis of these patients who are mainly treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Association between the TP53 and CYP2E1*5B gene polymorphisms and non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer. Genetic polymorphisms in tumour suppressor genes and genes encoding xenobiotic metabolising enzymes alter the activity of their corresponding enzymes and are important individual susceptibility factors for NSCLC. Because of the lack of information in literature, the aim of our study was to investigate the role of the tumour suppressor gene TP53 (Arg72Pro) and the xenobiotic metabolising CYP2E1*5B gene polymorphisms on the risk of NSCLC development. The study population consisted of 172 patients and 172 controls (156 men and 16 women in each group). Genetic polymorphisms were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Multivariate analysis showed a significant association with NSCLC for the combination between the TP53 codon72 Arg/Pro and the Pro/Pro genotypes (OR 2.21, 95 % CI 1.390-3.51; p=0.001). We also analysed whether combinations of these gene variants with GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 exon 5 (Ile105Val), and GSTP1 exon 6 (Ala114Val) gene polymorphisms were associated with the NSCLC risk. A significant increase in the risk was observed for the following combinations: TP53 codon72 variant with GSTM1 null (OR 2.22, 95 % CI 1.23-4.04; p=0.009), GSTT1 null (OR 2.98, 95 % CI 1.49-5.94; p=0.002), and GSTP1 (Ala114Val) variant genotypes (OR 3.38, 95 % CI 1.54-7.41; p=0.002). Further studies with larger samples are needed to verify these findings.

Cytogenetic damage in Turkish coke oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Association with CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations (CA) and cytochalasin-blocked micronuclei (CBMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from Turkish coke oven workers and the influence of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms on these biomarkers. Cytogenetic analysis showed that occupational exposure significantly increased the CA and CBMN frequencies. Gene polymorphisms, on the other hand, did not affect CA or CBMN in either exposed or control subjects. However, due to the limited sample size, our findings need to be verified in future studies with a larger sample.

Association between glutathione S-transferase omega 1 A140D polymorphism in the Turkish population and susceptibility to non-small cell lung cancer.

Recent years have seen a growing evidence of ethnic differences in the frequency of glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1) A140D gene polymorphism, which is associated with various cancers such as breast and liver. Until now however, no association has been investigated between the GSTO1 A140D polymorphism and lung cancer. The aim of our study was to see if there was one in the Turkish population. To do that, we identified GSTO1 A140D polymorphism in 214 unrelated healthy individuals and 172 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The frequencies of A/A (wild type), A/D (heterozygous mutant), and D/D (homozygous mutant) GSTO1 A140D genotypes in healthy subjects were 48%, 41%, and 11%, respectively. In NSCLC patients they were 48%, 45%, and 7%, respectively. We found no significant association between the GSTO1 A140D gene polymorphism and NSCLC or its histological subtypes, namely squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, this polymorphism did not correlate with smoking. Our study is the first to show that the frequency of GSTO1 A140D gene polymorphism in the Turkish population is similar to other Caucasian populations and that this polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to NSCLC.

Association between GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and lung cancer risk in a Turkish population.

Several studies focused on investigating genetic polymorphisms in order to estimate genetic contribution to lung cancer often showed conflicting results. In this study, we investigated the role of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 exon 5 and exon 6 polymorphisms on developing lung cancer and histological subtypes in 213 lung cancer patients and 231 controls. GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 exon 5 variant genotypes did not show a significant risk for developing lung cancer overall. Significant association was noted between GSTP1 exon 6 variant genotypes and overall lung cancer risk (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.25-3.78; P = 0.006). These results show that GSTP1 exon 6 polymorphism might be an important factor in determining lung cancer susceptibility in a Turkish population.

Synthesis and antioxidant capacities of some new benzimidazole derivatives.

In this study, we prepared some new oxadiazolyl benzimidazole derivatives and investigated their antioxidant properties by determination of microsomal NADPH-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation levels (LP assay) and microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (EROD assay). Some of these compounds 20, 23 had slightly inhibitory effects (28%) on the lipid peroxidation levels at 10(-3 )M concentration lower than standard BHT (65%). 5-[2-(Phenyl)-benzimidazol-1-yl-methyl]-2-mercapto-[1,3,4]-oxadiazole 16 was found to be more active than caffeine on the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity with an IC(50 )value of 2.0 6 10(-4 )M.

Polymorphisms of microsomal epoxide hydrolase and glutathione S-transferase P1 in a male Turkish population.

Polymorphic genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes may account for interindividual differences in certain types of diseases especially cancer. In this study, microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene polymorphisms were determined among 133 healthy males of a Turkish population. Frequencies of EPHX1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms were determined by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) method. The observed genotype frequencies of EPHX1 exon 3 were Tyr113Tyr:50.4%, Tyr113His: 42.1%, His113His: 7.5% and EPHX1 exon 4 were His139His: 69.2%, His139Arg: 28.6%, Arg133Arg: 2.2%. GSTP1 exon 5 genotype frequencies were Ile105Ile: 58.7%, Ile105Val: 35.3%, Val105Val: 6.0% and GSTP1 exon 6 genotype frequencies were Ala114Ala: 85.0%, Ala114Val: 14.3%, Val114Val: 0.7%. These results reveal that the frequencies of EPHX1 and GSTP1gene polymorphisms in a small sampling of males within a Turkish population are similar to European Caucasian populations.

Synthesis, antifungal and antioxidant screening of some novel benzimidazole derivatives.

Some novel benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and their in vitro effects on rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) level, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and antifungal activities were determined. A significant decrease in male rat liver microsomal LP level was noted by compounds 4c (52%), 4e (58%) and 4h (43%) at 10(-3) M concentration. Compounds 4c (100.0%), 4h (100.0%), 5c (98.0%) and 5h (100.0%) inhibited the microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) enzyme activity better than that of the specific inhibitor caffeine (85%). Among these compounds, only compounds 4b and 4h exhibited moderate activity against C. albicans whereas the others had weak effects.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) polymorphisms (CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1) and urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene in Turkish coke oven workers

Genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes have been associated with cancer risk. We evaluated the influences of genetic polymorphisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolizing enzymes on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) excretion in Turkish coke oven workers. Urinary 1-OHP was analyzed by HPLC after enzymatic hydrolysis. Lymphocyte DNA was used for PCR-based genotyping of cytochrome P450 (CYP) polymorphisms (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1). The mean urinary 1-OHP levels of coke oven workers were significantly higher than that of controls. No significant difference was detected in the mean urinary 1-OHP levels of smokers and non-smokers either for coke oven workers or controls. Genetic polymorphisms of the CYPs and GSTs studied had no significant influence on 1-OHP excretion in coke oven workers, but in the control group the urinary 1-OHP levels of individuals carrying the GSTT1- genotype were significantly higher than those of individuals carrying GSTT1+ genotype. The duration of occupational exposure and metabolic genotype for GSTT1 were the significant predictors of urinary 1-OHP levels. The control individuals carrying combined GSTM1-/GSTT1- genotypes also had significantly higher levels of urinary 1-OHP than those of individuals carrying GSTM1+/GSTTI+, GSTM1-/GSTT1+, and GSTM1+/GSTT1- genotypes. These results indicate that urinary 1-OHP is a sensitive indicator of recent human exposure to PAHs and that genetic polymorphism of GSTT1 may also to some extent reflect the interindividual variation in susceptibility to PAHs only at low PAH exposure.

Synthesis, antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of novel benzimidazoles.

The synthesis and antioxidant evaluation of some novel benzimidazole derivatives (10-24) are described. Antioxidant properties of the compounds were investigated employing various in vitro systems viz., microsomal NADPH-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LP), interaction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and scavenging of superoxide anion radical. Compounds 12 and 13 showed very good antioxidant capacity and were 17-18-fold more potent than BHT (IC50 2.3 x 10(-4) M) with 1.3 x 10(-5) M and 1.2 x 10(-5) M IC50 values, respectively, by interaction of the stable DPPH free radical.

Hazard identification for contaminants.

In recent years, the recognition of generation of large quantities of toxicants and their by-products due to the industrial and/or cultural activities and transport and their persistence in the environment and biological activities brings out the necessity and importance of their assessment of risk they pose to the ecosystems (e.g. aquatic environment-coastal waters, rivers, lakes and ground water). Indeed, understanding the impacts of contaminants on the environment, including the organisms which live in it, is rather complicated. Nevertheless, the need for protection of the scarce natural resources in the environment and wiser use of them brings the necessity and importance of focusing more attention to the issue. Accordingly the process of ecological risk assessment (ERA) has evolved rapidly since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a framework for ecological risk assessment in 1992. The ecological risk assessment involves three stages in a continuous process: (1) problem formulation (problem identification-hazard identification), (2) the analysis of exposure and effects and (3) risk characterisation. Risk management follows the risk characterisation. Of these stages, problem identification is the most critical one which establishes the direction and scope of the ecological risk assessment. The stage involves identifying the actual environmental value(s) to be protected (assessment endpoints) and selecting ways in which these can be measured and evaluated (measurement endpoints). The accuracy of the risk estimation is largely based on the availability of the key information about the contaminant characteristics, ecosystem at risk and ecological effects and the less uncertainty associated with them. The key information required during this phase of the risk assessment process are as follows: (a) potential/actual contaminant of concern, (b) source of contaminant; current and historic use, (c) mode of action of the contaminant, (d) contaminant characteristics (e.g. physical/chemical properties and environmental behaviour, persistence in the ecosystem, transformation products and bioaccumulation), (e) ecosystem potentially at risk and (f) areas of uncertainty. Finally based on these information a conceptual model has to be developed to define the possible exposure and assessment scenarios. Herein, the aforementioned key issues concerning the problem-hazard identification stage of ecological risk assessment for contaminants have been briefly reviewed.

Synthesis and antioxidant properties of novel benzimidazole derivatives.

Some novel benzimidazole derivatives carrying thiosemicarbazide and triazole moieties at the N1 position were synthesized and their in vitro effects on rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) levels determined by measuring the formation of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. The free radical scavenging properties of the compounds were also examined in vitro by determining the capacity to scavenge superoxide anion formation and the interaction with the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The compounds showed a significant effect in the above tests except to scavenge superoxide anion formation.

Antioxidant properties of flavone-6(4')-carboxaldehyde oxime ether derivatives.

The in vitro antioxidant properties of some flavone-6(4)-carboxaldehyde oxime ether derivatives (Ia-f, IIa-f) were determined by their effects on the rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) levels by measuring the formation of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The free radical scavenging properties of the compounds were also examined in vitro by determining their capacity to scavenge superoxide anions and interact with the stable free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The most active compounds, IIb (Flavone-4'-carboxaldehyde-O-ethyl oxime) and Id (Flavone-6-carboxaldehyde-O-[2-(1-pyrolidino) ethyl] oxime), caused 98 and 79% inhibition of superoxide anion production and DPPH stable free radical at 10(-3) M, respectively.

Evaluation of the antioxidant effects of some flavonylthiazolidinediones by determining their effects on lipid peroxidation, superoxide anion formation, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical.

The in vitro antioxidant effects of some flavonylthiazolidinediones (Ia-d, IIa-d) on rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were determined by measuring the formation of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. The free radical-scavenging properties of the compounds were examined in vitro by determining the capacity to scavenge superoxide anion formation and of the interaction with the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The compounds had no inhibitory effects on LP. However, they had variable inhibitory influence on superoxide anion production and DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner. The most active compound, 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenacyl)-5-[2-phenyl-4H-4-oxo-1-benzopyran-6-yl)methylenyl]-thiazolidine-2,4-dione, Id showed 98% inhibition of superoxide anion production and 95% inhibition of DPPH stable free radical at 10(-3) M.

Polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1, glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 in a Turkish population.

Intra-ethnic as well as inter-ethnic differences are known to exist in the frequencies of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms with which associations have been shown for several cancers. In this study, CYP1A1 m2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were determined among 133 healthy individuals of a Turkish population. On the basis of polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) methodology, the frequency of CYP1A1 m2 mutation was determined. The multiplex PCR protocol was used to determine the frequency of the deleted genotypes of both GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes. The frequencies of Ile/Ile (wild type), Ile/Val (heterozygous variant), and Val/Val (homozygous variant) CYP1A1 m2 genotypes were 90.2%, 9.8%, and 0%, respectively. The frequencies of the deleted GSTM1 (null) and GSTT1 (null) genotypes were 51.9% and 17.3%, respectively. These results show that the frequencies of the CYP1A1 m2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in a Turkish population are similar to Caucasian populations.